More than 170 school children from across the UK are to race in a bid to win the National Trust’s ‘Crumble Rumble’, organised as part of the Trust’s early contribution to British Food Fortnight.

At 9.30am on Wednesday 9 September, aprons will be on and plastic tubs at the ready when the race to pluck apples and blackberries from one of 14 National Trust estates begins.

The children will then dash to the house kitchen where – with help from a National Trust chef – the cooking begins using a recipe similar to the one demonstrated by top chef, Richard McGeown in the video below.

The winning Crumble Rumble team will be the first to produce a fully cooked fruit crumble, complete with a golden crumble topping and bubbling fruit interior.

said Lynda Brewer, Catering Development Manager for The National Trust who is overseeing the Crumble Rumble.

'Cooking with your children is great low-cost fun and it also helps them learn about seasonal ingredients and how to tell fruit is ripe. If nothing else, it prepares them for life with at least one good, home-cooked recipe up their sleeve.'

The Crumble Rumble is a forerunner to British Food Fortnight (19 September - 4 October 2009) which the Trust is celebrating with a number of Food Glorious Food events for children and their families at local Trust properties throughout the country.

Wherever possible the National Trust uses local, seasonal and sustainable food in its 150 restaurants and catering outlets, with properties serving a variety of freshly-made, delicious hot puddings throughout the Autumn, including fruit crumble.

'A hand-picked fruit crumble is as local and seasonal as it gets,' said Lynda.

The race will commence at 9.30am and all 14 properties’ results will form a national Crumble Rumble league table, to be announced after midday on Wednesday 9 September.